Chinese Late Qing Colored Glass Zodiac Snake Figure

Chinese Late Qing Colored Glass Zodiac Snake Figure, China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. The snake is modeled in four separate colors of glass, with a green anthropomorphic, robed body with yellow details, and a green head with red, white and black details. The piece belonged to a full set of the figures of the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. Such figures were popular since Tang times, when they were first modeled in terracotta. By the late Qing Dynasty in the 19th century, they show up in polychrome glass examples. Such figures are made with truly modern type colored glass which was produced in China in greater quantity by the 18th century. Restored from two large fragments. H. 5 3/8" (13.7 cm)..